3 Arrested With 3 Loaded Guns Near Boardwalk: Photos

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Three people were arrested with three loaded "ghost guns" at Beach Flats Park.

Three males — ages 17, 19 and 20 — were not named by officials and taken into custody by members of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, the Santa Cruz Police Department said. The 20-year-old man was booked on three outstanding warrants related to gun possession, police said.

Ghost guns are built from parts sold off of the internet and do not have serial numbers, meaning they are untraceable.

Officers were patrolling the Beach Flats neighborhood around 6:30 p.m. Thursday when they spotted the men drinking beer next to a parked car at Beach Flats Park, police said. Officers recognized them as people involved with a gang.

They tried to walk away but officers saw more beers in the car and arrested them for being minors in possession of alcohol, police said.

Officers searched the car and found a loaded semi-automatic gun, plus another hidden on top of a car tire, police said. A third loaded semi-automatic gun was found after police searched a car belonging to another person involved.

The Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team works to combat gangs, violence and drugs in the area.